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B M & T ••• July/August 2026 ••• www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com 37 with Home2 Suites by Hilton LaGrange, Wingate by Wyndham LaGrange, Holiday Inn Express & Suites LaGrange, and Hampton Inn LaGrange near Callaway Gardens. What LaGrange may lack in convention-center scale, it makes up for with distinctive venues that help planners create memorable experiences. Del'avant Event Center, a restored 10,000 sq. ft. downtown venue, is perfect for receptions, galas, and network- ing functions. Crescent Station, located in the city's revitalized Rail District, can host gatherings ranging from intimate events to large celebrations of up to 900 guests. For groups seeking a scenic setting, Oakfuskee Conservation Center overlooks West Point Lake and offers indoor and outdoor space ideal for leadership retreats, wellness programming, and evening recep- tions. The LaGrange Art Museum provides another creative option for VIP gatherings and cultural events. The Legacy Museum on Main preserves the stories and achieve- ments of African Americans in Troup County and serves as one of the destination's most significant heritage attractions. The city's Roots & Resilience initiative further highlights the contributions of Black educators, entrepreneurs, civic leaders, and community builders who helped shape modern LaGrange. Historic sites connected to the Hillside neighborhood, Mulberry Street Cemetery, Dr. Benjamin T. Wood, and Ethel W. Kight provide additional options. When the day's agenda con- cludes, attendees can gather at Taste of Lemon, a Black-owned favorite known for Southern com- fort food, enjoy rooftop dining at Mare Sol, or host client dinners at Venucci. Downtown LaGrange's restaurants, wine bars, seasonal festivals, and live music venues cre- ate natural opportunities for after- hours networking. Add excursions to Callaway Gardens, Hills & Dales Estate, and West Point Lake, and you'll find a destination that blends Southern hospitality, cultural dis- covery, and relaxed sophistication into a meeting experience attendees will remember. WHO YOU GONNA CALL? Visit LaGrange – 706-668-5555 www.visitlagrange.com BILOXI, MS Biloxi has been welcoming visitors to the Mississippi Gulf Coast for generations, but today's meeting attendees discover a destination that pairs beachfront scenery with serious convention infra- structure. Set along the Gulf of Mexico, Biloxi blends coastal relaxation, resort amenities, maritime her- itage, and cultural significance into a meeting experi- ence that feels distinctly Southern and unmistakably Gulf Coast. The foundation of Biloxi's meetings market is the Mississippi Coast Coliseum & Convention Center, one of the largest beachfront convention facilities in the South. The complex offers approximately 400,000 sq. ft. of convention, meeting, and event space, including more than 197,000 sq. ft. of exhibit space, multiple meeting rooms, ballroom facilities, and an arena capable of supporting large conventions, trade shows, and association events. Its waterfront location gives planners the rare ability to pair large-scale business Biloxi Hard Rock Meeting Space Visit LaGrange Oakfuskee Convention center